Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
The strange gaze made Phoebe shiver with apprehension—what was it talking about?
Before she could ask, the bright purple eye closed abruptly and the crazy head slumped forward, a thin line of drool running from the tip of one tusk to drip onto Lord Thruck’s velvet breeches.
“My Lord, your second head speaks prophecy!” Undersecretary Y’sfer’s eyes were wide. “But what does it mean?”
“It means nothing—it speaks nonsense!” Thruck protested, but Phoebe thought his sane head looked uneasy. “Nevertheless, they may stay,” he went on, nodding at her and Sirex. “Y’sfer, get them a guest suite and be sure there’s a place at the banquet table for them tonight.” The sane head looked directly at Sirex. “You have until tomorrow to prove to me that you deserve an audience with the Shining One. Tomorrow morning we’ll discuss this again. Now, go!”
The Trollox waved one ham-sized hand imperiously and his Undersecretary was quick to comply.
“Come! I’ll show you to a room,” he said quickly. Then he scurried out of the Grand Salon, leaving Sirex and Phoebe to follow.
18
SIREX
They went through another series of grand hallways, passing one particularly magnificent doorway which was decorated in scrolled gold and bass relief carvings as they went.
“That’s the Emperor’s room where he keeps his private collection of ancient artifacts,” Undersecretary Y’sfer remarked, nodding at it.
“Really? I don’t see any guards out front,” Sirex said, frowning.
“Oh, there is no need for guards. Lord Thruck keeps it locked. And even if he didn’t, no one would dare to enter the Royal Residence without Lord Thruck’s permission. Why, even touching the door without having Lord Thruck beside you carries a heavy penalty,” Y’sfer explained.
Sirex wondered if the Emperor had willingly given over the exclusive power of seeing him to Lord Thruck and decided he’d better not ask.
“I see,” he said neutrally.
“And here is your guest suite,” Y’sfer said, throwing open a door several down from the Emperor’s suite. “I hope you’ll be comfortable. The banquet is in just about one solar hour and it’s to be held in the Great Hall. I’ll have new clothing sent for you, as well as some accoutrements for your female,” he said to Sirex. “For now, farewell.”
He left hurriedly, leaving the two of them alone in the vast, grand bedroom which had an enormous round bed as a centerpiece. Hanging above the bed was a curtain of sheer, silky fabric that had the faintest hint of blue. The curtain surrounded the bed, making it look a little like a tent, Sirex thought. Not that most tents had luxury mattresses inside them he thought dryly.
But he had more to do than admire the décor. Now that he and Phoebe were alone together, there was a bit of awkwardness between them. Sirex wondered if he ought to apologize for spanking her—but what else could he have done? Besides, she had deserved that spanking for endangering their mission by calling out Lord Thruck.
“Well…I suppose our mission has been extended, at least a little,” he remarked to Phoebe.
“I guess you’re right.” She looked at him from the corner of her eye, as though wondering what to say. Suddenly, she came over to him and went to her knees.
“Phoebe?” he asked, looking down at her in surprise. “What are you doing?”
“Apologizing for endangering the mission, Sir.” She bowed her head submissively. “I don’t know why I said those things. I mean, they were true—those people are horrible! But I shouldn’t have blurted out my feelings like that. I’m truly sorry.”
Sirex felt a surge of relief.
“Get up,” he said. Leaning down he took her arm and pulled her to her feet. “I admit I was angry, but I thought you took your punishment well—at least, once you settled down and started apologizing,” he added, stroking a strand of hair out of her face.
“I didn’t want to apologize at first,” she admitted. “I’m not sorry about insulting Thruck and Y’sfer—but I am sorry for making your job harder.”
“No more apologies,” Sirex told her, stroking her soft cheek. “You’ve already paid the price. Speaking of which, let me see your bottom.”
“See it? Why?” She looked suddenly flushed and flustered.
“Just so I can make sure I didn’t do any lasting damage.” Sirex went and sat on the side of the large bed, which was covered in a dark blue spread, and patted his knees. “Come here and lay across my lap so I can examine you.”
“Oh, um…okay.”
Reluctantly, he thought, Phoebe came to him. She was starting to lay across his lap as he had ordered, when she accidentally touched one of her breasts.
“Oh! Ouch!” she gasped at the sharp electric jolt the forbidden contact caused.
“Did you hurt yourself? Let me see,” Sirex ordered. Cupping her breast in one hand, he looked at it carefully. “I don’t see any marks,” he remarked.
“That’s because the pain is mostly in my fingertips,” Phoebe explained, wincing as she looked down at her hand. “This is going to be so inconvenient!”